Final answer:
Tom Sawyer's internal conflict is his responsibility to whitewash the fence, which he dislikes, versus his desire for fun. He resolves this by convincing others that painting is a privilege, thus getting the task done leisurely. The correct answer to the student's question is: A
Step-by-step explanation:
In The Adventures of Tom Sawyer, Tom's internal conflict revolves around a task he must complete versus his desire for leisure and adventure. This challenge is well-illustrated when Tom is faced with the daunting chore of whitewashing a fence on a beautiful day when he would much rather be doing anything else.
The correct answer to the student's question is: A. He knows that Aunt Polly is depending on him to get the fence painted, but he dislikes this task. Instead of completing the laborious job as a solitary chore, Tom cleverly manipulates his friends into believing that painting the fence is a privilege, which, in turn, not only gets them to do the work for him but also offers him gifts in exchange for the opportunity to paint.